Russia announces second athlete replacement

The Russian men’s national team had to replace a second player due to injury. Alexander Svitov will take Denis Kokarev’s spot for the Olympics on home ice.

Kokarev is already the second injured player after Sergei Soin from the roster announced on 7th January.

He suffered a leg injury in Dynamo Moscow’s game against CSKA Moscow on 22nd January and won’t recover in time for the Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament.

Kokarev will be replaced by Alexander Svitov of Ak Bars Kazan. It will be the first Olympics for the 31-year-old, who represented Russia in the last two IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships and won gold in 2012.

“Initially, Alexander Svitov was on the extended list. The choice fell on Alexander because he’s a skilled hockey player, world champion and can play well defensively and offensively,” Russia’s head coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov said in a news release.